Thread: New Equipment the pointy end

Remoteness is an issue, however I happened to be in Brisbane for a few day and visited a machinery shop. I drove them mad going over each piece of equipment . We have now ordered the following gear.

Laguna 20" 4 post thicknesser
Laguna 12" Parallelogram Jointer
Laguna LT 18 BX Bandsaw
25-50 Super max Drum Sander
Scroll saw - 21" Carbatec which I think is an

Excalibur

Metal detector

I figure it will take a month before our gear arrives, then the fun begins setting it all up.

Well, our tools arrived safe and sound. All arrived in 3 creates and off loaded at the shed. We paid for a crane truck, there was a lot of talk about picking up and off loading ourselves. A couple of us said that not happening, the jointer weighs 480 KG the only way its getting man handled is via a crane truck.

The same day we received our tools, Total Tools donated our shed a pellet jack, now that really has been a great asset. The tools were placed roughly in there final resting place, this allowed us to clear the whole workshop area and look how everything was fitting in. Suffice to say there has been some minor modification.

Everyone was excited and started unpacking the creates, I was more concerned some part or bit would get lost in the excitement so a bit of care was also required. In the end all the booklets were gathered in one location and no part went missing.
Crane Truck Delivery.jpgSetting up with trolly jack.jpg The 12 inch jointer is a beast of a machine.

As soon as I have more photos of our tools in place I will post an update.

Originally Posted by Brian45

..... Everyone was excited and started unpacking the creates, I was more concerned some part or bit would get lost in the excitement so a bit of care was also required. In the end all the booklets were gathered in one location and no part went missing. ......

Exciting times, Brian.

In the early 1980's I worked at the Australian Antarctic Division in Kingston, Tasmania for a short period during which a team of geologists and drillers was sent to one of the bases to drill an exploratory hole.

On arrival, they set to erecting their drilling rig, the last resupply vessel departed and a few weeks later they were ready to start drilling but couldn't find the drilling bits. Eventually they were found still in the wharf shed in Hobart. The geologists said a few rude words, then sat down to look at each other for six months until the next ship arrived.

Darwin ain't remote!


Cheers

Graeme

GraemeCook, you win in remoteness category .

Just a bit of an update. A lot of work has been put in at the shed since the new machinery arrived. Our wood work and metal workshops received a much needed clean out. A couple of older lathes have been worked on and missing parts purchased and both are fully operational. Both lathes were donated. We now have two metal and three wood lathes.

The placement of the machinery was a bit of trial and error in get things where we all felt best suited the members and best use of workshop space. It may not be perfect, then again what workshop is. I will say the pellet jack was used to great effect moving things about, many backs are happy, mine included.

Thicknesser - Sander.jpg Sliding Saw.jpgPower Leads.jpgEvery bench has drop down PP. Tools line up.jpg The jointer is just near the new power board. Lathe and bandsaws.jpg

There is still a lot to do, however we are making inroads and things are progressing well. With the build up and humidity climbing we are hoping to get two 40' container soon, this will allow us to move all our timber and other items out of the weather. None of us want to work in the build up.
We are working on clearing all the bench tops of hand tools and other items. This is a work in progress thing, as some members are more than happy to use the tools, not so good at putting them back where they came from. Of course, this was the case with some of the sanders, happy to use, just as happy to let others clean the mess up . I can see some education will be happening and maybe a few people getting upset. Basically, I see it being very simple- if you don't want to clean up, don't use the equipment .

A couple of people used the new machinery and crap went everywhere, a few members not happy especially the members doing the work installing and setting them up. All new machinery now have signs on them OUT OF ORDER - no extraction system in place.

All the tools have been wired up (3 phase) and various new PP installed.

Additional to the tools I have mentioned in an earlier post, we also purchased the following.

Vicmac wood lathe VL 300
Emblazer 2 CNC Router
McMillan air compressor 3 HP - 125 l 2 stage 160 PSI
Metabo Compound Mitre saw KGS 254

Along with various bits and pieces.

Things are staring to take shape and a members are excited seeing all the gear and I'm pushing hard to get SOP (Standard Operation Procedures)in place, for using the tools, as well as some form of induction and hands on education on machinery use. This is a big one and not to be taken lightly.

I'm about to order the gear for our extraction system so we can get a start ASAP, before some of use go away.

Till next update